Back in the days when I decided to choose a longboard, I had no idea of where to start, which one I should go to, and how I knew it was a good board for me.
That’s why I understand your difficulty now as a beginner – finding the best longboard for beginners in confusion. But you’re luckier than I used to be, you have me!
In this article, aside from giving you an ultimate buying guide, I’m going to share my top favorite picks during many years of longboarding. Read on!
See Also:
- 16 Best Skateboards For Beginners Adults In 2019: Selected By Me
- The 20 Best Longboard Brands Reviews In 2019
- Top 13 Best Longboards for Cruising – 2019 Edition (UPDATED)
Table of Contents
- Best Longboard For Beginners – Comparison Chart 2019
- Top 18 Best Longboard for Beginners Review In 2019
- 1.The Quest Longboard – Best Cruiser
- 2. VOLADOR 42inch Longboard – Best for Freeriding
- 3. Ten Toes Board Emporium Zed Longboard – Best Bamboo Longboard
- 4. Atom 41 Inch Longboard – Best Drop-Through
- 5.RIMABLE 41-inch Longboard – Stable
- 6. RIMABLE 41-inch Longboard – Stable
- 7. Playshion 39 Inch Longboard – Best for Freestyle
- 8. MINORITY 40-inch Longboard – Best for Downhill
- 9. SCSK8 Blank & Stained Longboard – Various Color Options
- 10. SCSK8 Drop Down / Drop Through Longboards – Ride smooth
- 11. Yocaher Drop Down Stained Longboard – Balance
- 12. Yocaher Punked Longboard – Fast
- 13. JUCKER HAWAII MAKAHUNA Longboard – Good Flex
- 14. Atom Longboards All-Terrain Longboard – Sturdy
- 15. Sector 9 G-Land Longboard – Lightweight
- 16. Loaded Boards Icarus Longboard – Good turns
- 17. GLOBE HG Geminon Longboard – Portable
- 18. Roxy Glider Classic Longboard – Best for Women
- Buying Guide
- FAQ
- 1. What is the best type of longboard for beginners?
- 2. Are longboards easier to ride?
- 3. What is the best brand of a longboard?
- 4. What is the best type of longboard for cruising?
- 5. How much is a longboard?
- 6. What is longboarding?
- 7. What are the best longboards for heavier riders?
- 8. Are skateboards or longboards better for commuting?
- 9. How to longboard for beginners?
- 10. Longboard weight limit?
- In conclusion
Best Longboard For Beginners – Comparison Chart 2019
Best Cruiser  | The Quest Longboard
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Best for Freeriding  | VOLADOR 42inch Longboard
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Best Bamboo Longboard  | Ten Toes Board Emporium Zed Longboard
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Best Drop-Through  | Atom 41 Inch Longboard
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Stable  | RIMABLE 41-inch Longboard
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Affordable  | Atom 39-Inch Longboard
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Best for Freestyle  | Playshion 39 Inch Longboard
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Best for Downhill  | MINORITY 40-inch Longboard
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Various Color Options  | SCSK8 Blank & Stained Longboard
| Check on Amazon |
Ride smooth  | SCSK8 Drop Down / Drop Through Longboards
| Check on Amazon |
Top 18 Best Longboard for Beginners Review In 2019
1.The Quest Longboard – Best Cruiser
To begin with, the Quest cruiser is my solid choice for the best beginner longboard.
In terms of outer performance, I really, really love its California vibe. It’s more beautiful than on the images that I bet you won’t believe in your eyes there’s such sophisticated look on a longboard pricing only $80.
The best thing is its deck which is 100% handmade crafted by the best artisans of Quest with the extra detail – something you hardly find on other counterparts in this price range.
I copped it right away and after a few rides, realized that this 44” longboard wasn’t just impressive on the look; but also phenomenal in quality.
The whole deck is made out of high-quality bamboo which is much lighter and softer than the maple to deliver amazing flexibility for cruising around foot traffic or down a hill. But at the same time, it’s durable enough to bear heavy weight (up to 250 lbs.).
With the slogan: Better components = better performance, Quest gains much trust from me for a high-quality product to stick with for the longest time possible. From bearings to the trucks and deck, particularly the wheels – their ability to absorb shock is phenomenal to bring really smooth riding on different kinds of terrains, even the rocks or rough surfaces.
In brief, this is one of the best longboards for beginners.
Pros
- Wide, sturdy, strong and long-lasting deck
- Weight limits up to 250 lbs.
- Well shock-absorbing wheels
- Good bearings
- High-quality, lightweight trucks
- Affordable price
-> Best for cruising
Cons
2. VOLADOR 42inch Longboard – Best for Freeriding
Next up is a longboard from Volador.
Among top-rated longboards, it’s indeed a good choice for a heavy skateboarder who weighs roughly 200 lbs. like me. But if you’re a heavier guy, don’t fret, I believe it’ going to support you nicely because of the durable deck
It’s an 8-ply hardwood maple deck that’s not only strong and durable to bear super-huge weight limit, but also wide enough to attach motor and electronics underneath the board’s middle area.
So, if you worry that it would break or get cracks under harsh abusing condition then don’t. Maple is well-known for its outstanding hardness to stay intact and durable no matter how many bumps, crops, and collisions it’s been through.
With little flex, you can lean to the left or right to make good turns. However, for higher demand for stability for paddling, consider tightening the trucks.
Aside from deck, bearings and wheels are high-quality as well.
Lastly, is the grip. In my experience, once your feet are planted on this board, they aren’t moving to anywhere so that even it’s a ride downhill, you will control the board pretty well.
Pros
- Good support for heavy skaters: strong deck, high-quality wheels, good bearings, and sturdy grip tape
- Can bear harsh abusing with minimal wears
- Nice and vibrant graphics
- Wide deck to mount motor and electronics
- Good grip
- Symmetrical design
- Great price
- Easy to carve
- Make sharp turns
- Ride smoothly on different terrains
-> Good for commuting, cruising, and carving.
Cons
- Need some adjustment on the wheels
Tips: Don’t go for the white wheel because they will easily turn into grayish color
3. Ten Toes Board Emporium Zed Longboard – Best Bamboo Longboard
The third choice in this list belongs to the Ten Toes Board.
If the strikingly vintage California look is exactly the longboard style you’d like to have, this option is surely the best to start with.
For years, the brand has been on top of the line, emphasizing their exceptionally smooth riding (that will surely amaze you upon each session) and the price, it can’t be cheaper.
In terms of materials, it’s a wise blend of bamboo and maple. They are strong, sturdy and durable to serve you for years, but the deck itself is way more phenomenal in person with good flex for cruising and carving. Also, its lightness gives much ease to carry around.
As a professional skater, I love this one for its high maneuverability whilst to you – beginners, its easy riding and decent stability will steal your heart. Overall, in terms of the cheap longboards for beginners, highly recommend!
Pros
- Durable and long-lasting
- Can bear harsh abusing
- Affordable but high quality and strong
- High maneuverability
- Stable and easy to learn
- Ride smoothly
-> Good for carving, turning, cruising and freeriding.
Cons
- Not good bearings
4. Atom 41 Inch Longboard – Best Drop-Through
Now is a drop-through longboard from Atom.
Might some people consider its price tag is a bit more expensive than other counterparts in this range, HOWEVER, for the phenomenal stability delivered from ultra-low-riding construction, I feel those extra bucks very worthy?
This is also my most favorite recently for downhill carving because its easy to push and smooth riding is ideal for commuting around the town.
Another highlight is the unique perimeter shape that not only can the board make a small radius, but also eliminate wheel bite efficiently, like one stone killing two birds. Really bang for the bucks!
And, did I tell you about its limited one-year warranty?
Pros
- Drop-through deck, large rounded wheels for decent stability and easy riding
- Stylish graphics
- Affordable price
- Solid wheels and trucks
- Good bearings
- Smooth ride
Cons
- The deck is warped a little bit after a long time of use
5.RIMABLE 41-inch Longboard – Stable
If cruising and freeriding are what you want to do with your longboard, you’re in the right address. The RIMABLE Drop Through, featuring 41” long and 9-ply full maple laminated deck, is indeed a strong and durable board to give a solid feeling when standing on and riding it around. No wobbling, for sure!
Though its wheels are PU, believe me, even a 300-pound guy can use it easily without fear of cracks or breakage. You only need to adjust the trucks a little bit for better flex and then, ready for the first ride.
I personally love the bearings that are superbly smooth to ride and quality to serve for years. The manufacturer didn’t provide which ABEC its bearings were, however, based on their quick rolling, I guess it must be around ABEC 5 or ABEC 7.
So, beginners should practice cruising and carving with this on flat surfaces before changing to riding downhills, just to ensure your safety. And remember to wear safety gears as well.
Pros
- Solid 9-ply maple deck and quality wheels to bear weight limit up to 300 lbs.
- Bearings spin smoothly and roll fast
- Good grip tape and no flex for the best stability
- Nice wheels
- Soft bushings
- Perfect deck width for big feet
- Affordable price
- No wheel bite
-> Best for carving and cruising
Cons
- Trucks are a little bit squeaky
6. RIMABLE 41-inch Longboard – Stable
Cop the Atom pin-tail longboard during the 20% off discount campaign so it now even bangs for every single penny.
This is also my top recommendation of all the time for beginners because, during such this time, the board itself is usually under the harsh abusing condition as you still don’t know how to control it utterly.
There might be lots of collisions, bumps, drops, and so on. A cheap longboard, in this case, is hard to handle that. Or, in other words, they will get some scars and even cracks very soon.
That’s why a mid-tier option is the better option for people in a tight budget – good as a long-term investment because at least, its materials are invested for higher quality to last longer with minimal damage.
I used this longboard nearly every day before changing to a more professional one for tricks. There’re many times it bumped to the wall or dropped from 2 feet high, would have thought that it could get many huge scars on the surface but turned out it was fine with just some small marks. Incredible!
So, in terms of durability, I can assure you about its on-point performance.
Another thing that’s worth mentioning is the free-wheelbite ability. It works efficiently even if you practice making small turns daily. Overall, a must-try board for beginners.
Pros
- Great price for decent quality
- Good components, including wheels, trucks, deck, and bearings.
- Durable and long-lasting
- Softwood for better flexibility
- No wheel bite
- Nice and strong grip tape
-> Good for downhills, carving, and cruising
Cons
- The rough gray part on the deck easily falls off in pieces, you should be careful
7. Playshion 39 Inch Longboard – Best for Freestyle
Another good choice for heavy beginner skaters.
Figure 8-ply hardwood maple with a weight limit of 250 lbs., thought it would be heavy like hell but turns out only weighs around 8 lbs. – pretty lightweight for either adults or kids.
Maple wood deck might be the worthiest part of this longboard to emphasize its amazing strength, durability, and hardness to withstand bumps and carves with minimal wears.
However, to talk about the feature that I really appreciate, it must be the wheels. For roughly $58, you’ve not only got the finest wood deck with amazing weight limit but also now is the SHR 78A Polyurethane wheels sizing 70mm – perfect size for beginners.
But, if your weight is over 250 lbs., my advice is to alter for bigger ones for higher stability as well as smoother riding without wobbles.
In general, this longboard is more about riding for fun that you can carve, curve, cruise, freeride, and slide with ease.
Pros
- Huge weight limit
- Versatile, strong but lightweight enough for both kids and adults
- High-quality deck with great durability and strength to bear a huge load
- Symmetrical design
- Quality wheels
Cons
- Can’t do tricks
8. MINORITY 40-inch Longboard – Best for Downhill
Now is another maple wood deck option but this one is more about a downhill longboard, which means its whole construction is adjusted to lower center of gravity as much as possible to afford various riding speeds.
Take a look at it!
Its deck is only 40” x 10” in size, built to close to the ground for easier paddling. This is a key factor to rise smoothly downhills with less gravity but lots of control and stability.
I’ve also tried riding down different sloping positions, which is synonymous to different speed levels. Exceeding my expectation, there’s no wobble or unbalanced at all. Bonus, the longboard’s dropping concave locks my feet greatly.
I also appreciate the reverse kingpin trucks because you can adjust them as 45 or 50 degrees due to preference – such a key factor to deliver decent maneuverability.
Pros
- Durable and strong deck
- Well-built as a downhill longboard with the perfect compromise of speed and stability
- Very balance and good at maneuverability
- Can make small turning radius
- Affordable price
Cons
- Slight wheel bite
- Noisy trucks
9. SCSK8 Blank & Stained Longboard – Various Color Options
This is one of the good beginner longboards for those who only look for fun to ride. It’s only costlier than the Walmart longboard but way more practical and quality.
In some certain patterns and size, you can get a really big deal which costs only around $33 for a smooth riding board to skate around with friends on a nearby skatepark or commuting around your campus school. From my viewpoint, it acts like a $150 board – pretty impressive!
I love them for the various sizes to help me pick the right one for my height and feet size. There are two options: The 40” and the 44”. Girls and teenager or kids are more suitable for the 40” to easily carry around whilst heavy guys or big male skaters should go for the 44” for best support and stability.
In terms of quality, it’s quite good for the price. Plus, easy to ride and even decent to ride fast. Might you only spend around 2-3 days to feel confident on your stance and start cruising around. But only once you already complete the most basic riding skills, then try downhill riding because this board catches up speed pretty fast.
One last bonus is its fully assemble to readily ride out of the box.
Pros
- Wide wheels, quality 7-ply maple deck, and 7” trucks for good stability
- Really cheap price
- Nice graphics
- Easy to learn how to ride
- Ride smoothly
- Various color and size options
Cons
- Not durable grip tape
- ABEC 9 which means the board itself catches up speed super-fast – not a good idea for beginners to ride downhills
10. SCSK8 Drop Down / Drop Through Longboards – Ride smooth
Consider this SCSK8 as a $33 longboard to start your skating life, based on my experience, you will get more than what you paid for.
Good grip tape, 7-ply maple deck, aluminum trucks, and PU wheels – Everything is moderately quality to cruise around my neighborhood.
If you ask for better performance, some replacements might be needed but I can assure you one thing, even after altering wheels, trucks, and bearings, the total cost is still under $100 for decent performance. That’s a big deal!
Only one notice is the trucks themselves might be a little bit stiff for the first ride. If you feel uncomfortable with that, do some adjustment on your own or get help from the others.
Now, for better performance, if allowed choosing one thing to alter, I would choose the wheels. They are good, but a bit limit on different terrains. I love cruising around the streets and pavements so, a softer pair will be the best bet for more decent shock absorption.
But if you’re beginners and skateparks are your favorite place to practice, such this replacement is not necessary.
Pros
- High-quality, strong and durable deck
- Good wheels for practicing in skateparks
- High-quality trucks
- Useful grip tape
- Ride comfortably and turn smoothly
-> Best for cruising
Cons
- Wheels are a bit slow
11. Yocaher Drop Down Stained Longboard – Balance
Yocaher is another reliable mid-tier brand for the best beginner longboard.
But to talk about the most suitable for beginners, I highly recommend two models. The first one is this 41.25” longboard. Actually, it’s designed for professional riders with high flat concave and ABEC 7 bearings, however, its phenomenal stability and non-flex construction are really possible for novice riders to make a try.
They might be a bit difficult at first to paddle, but after getting used to such that high concave, everything is really smooth and quick to learn.
Non-flex construction is the key feature for heavy riders to keep their balance as good as possible. Plus, the 9-ply maple deck with 78A Q-ball wheels will give you lots of support and control.
Only one thing to keep in mind is never riding downhills on this board unless you have some experience in longboarding as under fast speed, might you not enable to handle immediately.
Pros
- Perfect for experts and beginners -> Ideal for long investment
- Stable and balance
- Easy to learn and ride
- Grip pretty well
- The deck is wide enough plus durable material to bear heavy load (up to 270lbs.)
- Full assembled
Cons
- High concave so you might need time to get used to for the first time paddling.
12. Yocaher Punked Longboard – Fast
This is a worthy investment for long-term longboarding because its construction is not only suitable for novice riders, but also for the experts.
Just take a look at its specs!
Whilst other beginner longboards only choose maximumly ABEC 3 for their products, Yocaher upgrades it up to ABEC 7 – something that’s usually caught in the professional boards for fast speed and smooth ride. But the most amazing things is those boards coming up with ABEC 7 bearings are usually expensive whereas this one can’t be cheaper.
Truth to say, I doubted its quality a little bit but just after a couple of first rides, it changed my mind. They roll smoothly and caught up speed super well. However, stability is still ensured with large wheels, 180mm hanger, medium flex, and the 80A premium grade grip tape.
The only notice is to remember to wear full safety gear when riding downhills because of its fast speed.
One last good thing is when ordering this Yocaher board, it will arrive in fully assembled to spend no time for setup but just get ready for your very first ride.
Pros
- Ready to ride out of the box
- Good trucks and wheels
- Sturdy and long-lasting deck
- Useful grip tape
- Ride fast and smooth
- Good price
-> Good for cruising, freeride, carving, downhills, and ideal for big skaters
Cons
- Not good bearings
13. JUCKER HAWAII MAKAHUNA Longboard – Good Flex
In terms of the smoothest riding longboard, the Jucker Hawaii Makahuna is considerably the winner in this collection.
Whether riding over flat, hard ground or rocky surface, the board itself still keeps great balance and stability for the rider. I once test this function by having my wife try riding on the board. She’s blind in skating and much lighter than me, around 150 lbs.
It was amazing that after 30 minutes, she could paddle it around as well as cruise a little bit. And, over rocks or cracks on the ground, didn’t see the board stopped nor she flew up at all.
Really satisfied!
Pros
- Smooth riding
- Can roll over rocks or cracks on the surface
- Make a good turn
- The combo of soft wheels and quality Canadian maple and bamboo deck absorb shocks well
- Very stable and lightweight
- 42” wide deck for extra foot area or easily mount electronics in its middle space
- Good trucks and bearings
- Good maneuverability
- Deliver lively flex
-> Best for cruising around campus school, learning how to ride, and carving.
Cons
- Not good packaging
14. Atom Longboards All-Terrain Longboard – Sturdy
Compared to other Atom longboards, this model is a bit more expensive.
But in turns, what you’re going to receive is its phenomenal wheels and also avoiding many other issues like a squeaky deck, poor-quality bearings, and limited trucks.
I guess nobody wants to have bad experience right on their first ride, so, if your budget is on the table, I highly recommend this Atom longboard for your very first pal in your skateboarding journey.
Speaking of wheels, they move really smoothly and make for a surprisingly fantastic ride, or go over patches of grass, small pumps, rocks, and sticks without wobbling or unbalance. In other words, it will give novice riders a sense of confidence over all terrains.
Besides, the deck is lowered closer to the ground that’s amazingly easy to paddle. If you’re experienced and requires more of fast riding downhill, this is also the best bet due to its quality ABEC 9 bearings and stock grip tape.
All in all, simply a great buy!
Pros
- All-terrain, durable, versatile, and functional wheels
- Allow a bit flex to make good turns
- Smooth riding and good pushing
- Easy to ride
- Beautiful design
- Small, lightweight enough to carry around easily yet large enough for tall riders
- Weight limits up to 300 lbs.
-> Best for carving, cruising,
Cons
- Not a good idea for doing tricks
15. Sector 9 G-Land Longboard – Lightweight
Beginners, if there’s no skatepark near your living area, which ends up with you practicing your skating on different kinds of terrains, getting a longboard with phenomenal stability isn’t enough. It must be good at shock absorption to keep your balance as well as the ride smooth as well.
Sector 9 Bamboo G-Land is my recommendation for.
Its slight flex helps to absorb bumps and vibration in the road and sidewalk easily whilst the excess foot space of its 5-ply vertical laminated bamboo deck will deliver more standing area, comfort, control, and stability.
This one also catches speed rapidly so that with the experienced riders, you can test your limit with some carving at high speed or intense bombing downhill.
Pros
- Full assembled
- Good trucks and wheels
- 44” maple deck for better control, stability, and comfort
- Clear grip tape
- Flexible, durable, and lightweight
- Decent shock absorption
- Huge weight limit
- High-quality components
-> Best for riding downhills, freeriding and cruising.
Cons
- A bit wobbly for the first ride, some adjustment might be needed
16. Loaded Boards Icarus Longboard – Good turns
The Loaded Boards Icarus might be quite a costly choice for beginners but is also the one I lay my trust on the most. Every single part of this model is truly well-made to give riders a different level of riding experience.
And, the biggest benefit that I’ve found in it is efficient time savings. Instead of trying, adjusting, looking for better replacements for the stock wheels, bearings, or trucks, waiting for the goods, and installing. This bad boy can be ready out of the box to use, without adjustment needed. No wasted parts. No extra money.
Also, unlike other expensive items that you have to carefully use with fear of breaking them, on this one, just feel free to beat it. Very durable with hardly wears. It can bear bumps, drops, carves, and other ways of abusing without any damage to the graphics or other board’s parts.
Another big bonus is its versatility.
The construction of this longboard is specialized to serve for different purposes such as pumping, freeride, freestyle, snowboard-style carving, and urban commuting. Plus, they come up with enough needed features to satisfy all demand of the rides, no matter you’re a beginner or a pro, from stability, to flex, and maneuverability.
In general, this is a worthy long-term investment if you intend to stick your life with longboarding.
Pros
- Versatile to afford different riding styles
- Easy pushing and stable
- Include variable edge concave and Cambered profile for the better riding experience
- Tail kicks and nose
- Enable to make tight turns and deep carves
- Flared wheels combining with cutouts for optimal clearance
- Good at vibration damping
- Made of fiberglass and vertically laminated bamboo
- Very lightweight but durable with a lively ride
- Durable, high-quality Paris trucks
- Signature wheels for ultimate smoothness, speed, and grip.
- Keep balance well
- Decent bearings
Cons
- Expensive
17. GLOBE HG Geminon Longboard – Portable
The Globe HG Geminon is a typical for a drop-down longboard for cruising around as a convenient form of transportation.
Its construction integrates all needed features for commuting in distances, traveling, or cruising through foot traffic on the street, such as drop-down design to lower center of gravity, 41” deck for stability, reverse kingpin trucks for good maneuverability, and the reasonably wheels’ width of 72mm.
But the best thing here is its slight “W” concave to help you grip like a pro, even it’s down a hill or across busy foot traffic.
The material of its deck is a bit stiffer than other 9-ply maple decks I’ve tried. My guess is, its Blue Diamond sheet at the bottom has leveraged its stiffness significantly. However, that’s a great bonus because you will get more stability and balance while practicing.
Pros
- 41” 9-ply maple deck with extra Blue Diamond bottom sheet for extra sturdiness, durability, and stability
- Drop-down design for less center of gravity, keeping a better balance
- Large wheels and reverse kingpin trucks -> Good maneuverability
- Make a sharp turn
- Lightweight, easy to carry
- Huge weight limit
-> Best for cruising around, commuting and traveling without fear of being stolen
Cons
- At high speed, it wobbles a little bit.
Note: Some supermarkets won’t allow you to skate. Ask them before making a ride for shopping groceries.
18. Roxy Glider Classic Longboard – Best for Women
After a short longboarding “class” of mine on the JUCKER HAWAII, my wife turned out to love this wheel-relating sport. She bought the glider pintail classic longboard from Roxy due to my advice and also because of its girly outlook.
But on top of that, it arrives in fully assembled that no setup needed. This is a must-consider feature for women who find themselves not good at installing things.
Another element that female riders should remember is the board’s weight. This Roxy longboard is only 7.6 pounds, much lighter than the standard so, even my 10-year-old son can carry it around easily without fatigue.
Contrast to its lightness is the outstanding performance. You can roll it with the lightest push, solid feel on your feet and keep balance excellently. Its construction is also helpful for you to learn longboarding more quickly.
The most special feature in this girly board is the extra EVA Foam on board. Many women would love to start riding on their bare feet, which is something quite painful on the normal boards.
However, thanks to that thoughtful extra feature, it’s much comfortable now on your feet. Ladies, don’t miss out this one!
Pros
- High-quality material
- Flexible, durable and strong deck
- Cute and girly graphics
- Extra EVA foam
- Easy to ride and adjust
- Fully assembled
- Reasonable width of the deck to fit the average sizes of women’s feet
Cons
- The bearings aren’t good enough
Buying Guide
Decks
When it comes to choosing the best longboard, the deck does matter as it’s the principal component to support you significantly during a ride.
Types
There are four major types:
· Cruise
· Dancing/Boardwalking (top-mount)
· Freeriding (drop-down)
· Downhill (drop-through)
But only two of them are suitable for beginners. They are the cruiser and the freeriding.
Why? – You might ask.
Because they afford the first-and-foremost feature of a longboard for novice riders: Stability.
Cruise
Cruise is popularly known as more about a form of transportation among different longboard types.
It highlights a good weight distribution to be closer to the skateboard without flexing much so that the provided stability is truly on point. (In some cruises, there is a kick tail enclosed to upend its stability maximumly, you can consider adding it for easier riding)
Drop-down
About the drop-down, its stability is generated from the longboard deck lowered closer to the ground as the trucks, in this case, is mounted through and on top of the deck instead of towards the middle.
Such drop-down deck helps your feet and legs easier to move while pushing as well.
Another strength of this type is the symmetrical shape that allows you to easily switch from nose to tail.
Take note that the drop-down is more versatile than the cruise as it’s also utilized for slides, carvings, and downhill, which means its price will be more expensive than.
If you intend to develop your board-riding career, go for this one. Otherwise, a cruise to riding along the streets is really fun.
Drop-through
Now, I guess some people wonder why I don’t recommend the drop-through deck, right?
In terms of functions, it’s quite the same as a drop-through deck but way faster when going downhills because the deck itself isn’t as close to the ground as the drop-through.
And?
When riding down a slope or hill, such that speed is very dangerous, especially for you – a beginner who don’t have much experience and skills to handle that.
Top-mount (Boardwalking/Dancing)
As its name defined, this type of deck is used for dancing or board-walking, which is more about freestyle skating and trick performing.
Actually, beginners can pick these but they will be a bit more difficult to get used to and learn because, in reality, the top-mount deck is designed more for pro’s alike. That’s why I don’t as much highly recommend it to you as two other decks.
Size
Though the deck’s width doesn’t deliver much difference to the eye, it does in terms of stability factor.
The wider the deck, the more stability it will be.
There are three main shapes of the deck: Camber, concave and flat. Among them, the flat one is suitable for beginners.
Materials
The next consideration is the deck’s material.
There are basically two kinds: Bamboo and Maple. Each of them comes up with particular pros and cons. For example, while bamboo highlights its decent flexibility and lightness, the strength of maple is durability and hardness to take a good thrashing.
From that point, if you want to practice cruising and carving, go for the bamboo deck. For downhill surfing and freeride, a maple one will be your best bet.
Bonus:
If you have chances to meet the experienced riders, might you spot the third deck’s material, which is also the most expensive – The carbon fiber. It’s served for those who demand the highest level of speed and maneuverability with lightness but hardness to help them handle with ease through slides or around corners.
So, can a beginner have it?
Yes, you can! But its price might break your bank. Besides, for beginners who only start to learn the most basic skateboarding skills, it’s not worthy to spend such that much, at least in my opinion. Once you get a solid foundation of skating, let’s consider a carbon fiber deck!
Trucks
Every longboard will need two trucks.
They are the metal pieces with T-shaped silhouette mounted underneath the deck. And, compared to the standard skateboard trucks, there’re two major differences.
First off is the width, longboard trucks are much wider than other rest to compensate for their longer deck. Secondly, is the direction that their axels face. Always, it’s opposite to the standard trucks’ axels direction because of their reverse-kingpin design.
And thanks to this difference, it lets skateboarders increase maneuverability and turn better.
The size of longboard trucks is measured by the width of the axle or the width of the hanger, which means it’s one of the must-consider features when it comes to choosing this part.
Hanger width
The best hanger should match nicely to its longboard width. For example, if your board’s deck is 9” wide then the hanger should be a minimum of 180mm in width. Or, if it’s a slimmer board or a cruiser, a 150mm hanger is the best to go to.
Truck types
Another thing to consider is the types of longboard truck. As mentioned above, the most typical is the “reserve-kingpin” with a high range of maneuverability for carving turns in no time.
Due to my experience, if you own a cruising board with kicktails, choose the standard style trucks because of its nice sharp response from the provided tail. On the contrary, for the street skateboards, the “standard-kingpin” style trucks are good to go.
However, that doesn’t mean you can use the “standard” style trucks for longboarding. It just takes you some effort, time, and money to adjust the trucks as well as upgrade the bushings for sharp, smooth and effortless turning.
If you decide to go for the “standard” style trucks, make sure you know how to adjust them, or, at least, there’s someone skillful to help you with that. In case you want to adjust the trucks on your own, remember this basic rule of thumb:
The more tightening, the more stable of the trucks, the smoother of your downhill and freeride experience.
The best thing is trying your board for the first time, then adjusting its trucks gradually until the ride of the board feels easy enough for you.
Wheels
Wheels make all the moves, which is why you should ignore them while look for your first longboard. There are four major things to consider: durometer, wheels’ size, wheel bite, and wheel shape.
Durometer:
It’s a measuring unit for the wheel’s softness, using the ‘Shore A Scale’, which ranges between 1-100.
Softer durometer wheels are better for control and grip over the movement to deliver more stability to your longboard and vice versa.
To follow more easily what I’m talking about, take a look at this table:
| Durometer | Wheel’ hardness | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 78a-87a | Soft | Handle over bumps and cracks ,ride over rougher terrains ,cruise and downhill |
| 88a-95a | Slightly harder | Ride over rough ground ,street staking |
| 96a-99a | Hard | Ride around the skateparks in a bowl or on some vert ,street skating |
| 101a + | Really hard | Ride over rough surfaces with little grip ,provide a different riding experience |
For beginners, the 78a to 87a range is the best to start with.
Wheel’s size
The millimeter is the official measuring unit for skateboard wheels. The bigger the diameter, the bigger the wheels.
For adult riders skating skateparks, street, bowls, and vert, wheels sizing 54-59mm are the best choice.
But if you’re a beginner, I highly recommend going for the 60mm wheels and up based on their more area in contact with the ground to deliver better stability. Or, in other words, they can handle debris and bumps with ease rather than the small wheels. Also, they are suitable for specialty longboarding, downhill and dirtboard, and old-school board skaters.
Wheel bite
This term is used for the rubbing caused by wheels against your deck due to the hard/sharp turns or when landing a trick. That allows you to stop abruptly and, in some cases, leading to a nasty drop.
Based on such friction, the deck itself wears down as well, which the clearest sign to notice it is an indent as a slight spot where the wheels rub to its deck.
To overcome serious wheel bite, opt for higher trucks or risers. However, if this issue is slight, you don’t need to think about it at all.
Wheel shape
Two popular wheel shapes are rounded and straight edges.
The straight edges are better on stability, which is perfect for a beginner with lots of control and grip. It’s also a perfect choice for riding downhills.
On the contrary, rounded wheels are a good choice for freeriding, cruising and sliding rather than downhill racing due to its lack of grip when turning.
Riser pads
As mentioned above, riser pads take the role of preventing wheel bite.
So, the longer the board, the larger its wheels and the higher a riser pad should be.
For beginners, this is a must-have accessory to prevent friction between wheels and deck, and also reduce pressure cracks formed by relieving stress from the trucks as well.
Riser pads come in different sizes
| Riser pad’s height | Hardware size |
|---|---|
| No riser | 7/8" - 1" |
| 1/8" | 1" - 1 1/8" |
| 1/4" | 1 1/4" |
| 1/2" riser | 1 1/2" |
The case “no riser pad needed” is for those wheels that are too small (usually 58mm in size) while for beginners, the ideal height of the riser pad should be 1/8”.
Must-have accessories for longboarding
This is a bonus part as I worry that you forget to equip yourself some protective gear. You know it, safety first!
Five must-have accessories for longboarding are kneed pads, helmet, slide gloves, butt/hip pads, and elbow pads.
Knee pads
If you practice riding downhill or learn how to slide, knee pads are a must to save you from unwanted rash or falling off. Otherwise, for cruising or carving, it’s just an optional.
Helmet
This is the most important gear to keep you safe from head injuries. In skateboarding in particularly saying and other wheel-based sports in general, the risk of head injuries is high no matter you ride fast or slow. Some cases might lead to fatal.
So, might you ignore the knee pads, but not for the helmet.
Slide gloves
The next must-have safety gear in this list is slide gloves which take the role as brakes for a longboard to shutdown slides. Wearing them helps your precious hands from road rashes while making a brake.
Elbow pads
Along with the slide gloves, you should equip yourself a pair of elbow pads when riding downhill at a fast speed to save your skin from painful road rash.
Butt/hips pads
And finally, is the butt/hips pads.
They arrive in a pair of shorts worn underneath your clothes. You should have these when learning how to surf downhill or how to do a new trick.
FAQ
1. What is the best type of longboard for beginners?
Hm, it’s a hard question because the answer depends significantly on your preferred style in longboarding as well as what you want to do with a longboard – either just for fun or for a professional riding career.
Out of four major types, I highly recommend choosing either the cruise or the drop-down because of their decent stability.
For fun, a cruiser board is a great choice whereas for a professional career, go for a drop-down longboard.
2. Are longboards easier to ride?
Compared to other types of a skateboard, the longboard is really easy to ride, which is also a perfect choice for a beginner because the board now is much longer, with bigger wheels and wider trucks to deliver better stability. If you choose the right deck type, it’s even easier to start with.
3. What is the best brand of a longboard?
Great question!
Because once keeping in mind the best longboard brands, the go-to list will be narrow down significantly to the best ones only. However, to get the most detail answer to this question, kindly take a look here.
Not only round up 20 best brands for the longboard, but I also suggest the must-try products of each with different styles, colors, price ranges, and materials that surely help you find out the best one.
4. What is the best type of longboard for cruising?
Cruiser.
5. How much is a longboard?
About 50-300 bucks depending on what you’re going to do with it. Obviously, a longboard for cruising only is much cheaper than the one for further use. Besides, style and preference do matter.
However, as a beginner, you don’t need to spend an avalanche of money for a high-end longboard. Choosing a good one that prices 90-150 dollars is okay.
6. What is longboarding?
Literally, longboarding is developed based on the higher demand of surfers who are looking for something else longer than the standard skateboard for better stability and ease to pick up. That means, longboarding is quite the same in movements as surfing and it’s for both beginners and pros.
7. What are the best longboards for heavier riders?
For a high-quality stiff deck made for heavier riders, drop deck is good to go. The biggest thing to consider here is its length. Too short, feel like standing on nothing whereas too long, look no other than a coffee table under your feet.
To help you find out the most suitable, I’ll give you an example of my case. I’m 6’5” and 200 lbs., wearing size 12 shoes. The two decks I’m going to suggest you are quite phenomenal for me.
8. Are skateboards or longboards better for commuting?
I’ll start to answer this question by listing out the particular strengths of each board for commuting. Longboards are truly the best choice for dealing with variable pavement/road/sidewalk surfaces and actual commuting-like travel.
At the same time, skateboards emphasize their decent lightness to easily carry around when not in use.
So, the choice lies with you. Like me, I’m a muscular guy so my favorite choice of all the time is a longboard. However, if you’re a girl or teenager, consider a skateboard is not a bad idea.
Bonus:
If you have experience in customizing your board, I highly recommend going for a skateboard to take advantage of its lightness whilst changing its wheels because mostly, the result of commuting performance is based on that part.
If you alter them by a larger pair of wheels than the longboard-normal, the commuting is surely better. Or, to enjoy the commute experience, go for the wheels that are softer than the skateboard-normal.
9. How to longboard for beginners?
First off, is determine which foot to place forward.
If you’re a right-footed, place the left one forward, which means you skate regularly. On the contrary, as a left-footed person, place your right one toward. In this case, they say that you skate goofy.
If you have no idea of which group you are in, think about the foot that gives you full of energy when kicking a football.
Next is articulating your feet
This is the key to help you learn longboarding quickly but many people don’t know about it.
So, keep this in mind: Place the front foot straight behind the screws whilst putting your back foot in front of the rear screws.
Many people choose to place their back foot behind the rear screws but in fact, it isn’t helpful at all because that posture will put your body weight on the back, leading to your board lifted up.
Now, start pushing!
When putting the back foot on the longboard, place it in the same place that I’ve just told you – in front of the rear screws whilst the front one is straightened to 90 degrees. This posture is like an essential step to keep you stable without wobbling in the process.
Practice with a partner
Why?
Because you need a person who pushes you on the longboard so that you can practice your balance, stability, and strength.
Once you complete this step, it’s time to try longboarding alone.
Turning
Now, it’s time to learn how to turn right or left. There’re two simple things to remember: toe edge curving and heel edge curving.
Imagine that you’re longboarding with your own stance, the toe edge curving helps you turn right by dipping your toes inward whereas the heel edge curving makes the board turn right by dipping your heels backward.
How to stop your board
Last but not least is to stop your longboard. As there’s no brake system on this board type, remember these two ways when you want to stop a board. The very first one is to carefully jump off the board whilst running off any momentum you’ve got.
Apply this way when you see some obstacles like ditches, grass, or puddles.
And the second way to stop it is shuffling the feet that you utilize to push the board. I prefer this one more but for beginners, highly recommend the first method.
Another more skillful way to stop your board (which should be applied by experienced skaters but I’ll include it here to vary your choices after completing the first basic way) is using the glide gloves. This way is more suitable for riding downhills when the speed is really fast and you want to stop it abruptly.
Take a look here:
10. Longboard weight limit?
Almost longboards come in weight limit of 200-300 lbs.
In conclusion
As beginners don’t have many riding experiences, choosing the right longboard is a very cautiously selection. Because of too many options available out there, it’s even tougher to figure out which is suitable and which is not.
So, I hope that from my years of experience in longboarding and this buying guide, you to get one more reliable source to choose the best longboard for beginners. Thanks for reading!
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May 11, 2019 at 6:50 pmSuch a big but so annoying article. Now I am even more confused which one to go for